What is the best free language learning app?

Duolingo has the broadest free start in this list, with a course path for each language. Clozemaster is also free to play and suits vocabulary practice alongside a course.

Which language app puts the most weight on speaking?

Speak, Busuu and Pimsleur put the most weight on speaking, through AI conversation, audio roleplay and pronunciation feedback. Rosetta Stone adds chat missions, but it needs a paid membership.

Are any language learning apps open source?

No. None of the apps in this list publishes its source code under an open-source license, so the open-source column is false for all of them.

Which language app works offline?

Pimsleur lists offline lessons on its site, and Drops lists offline learning on its Premium plan. For the other apps here, check their offline options before relying on them during travel.

Is a paid language app worth it?

Paid apps such as Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone suit a learner who will commit to a schedule and wants audio or immersive lessons. Learners who want to start free can try Duolingo or Busuu first.

Best Language Learning Apps in 2026: Top 10 Ranked

The ranking

Top pickDuolingo92.5
Best with a free planBusuu88.5

1
Duolingo
The broadest free start in this list, with short lessons on iOS, Android and the web. Its course path is fixed and the extras need Super Duolingo, unlike Clozemaster's free-to-play model.
Best for Free daily practice with a clear course path
WebiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
92.5of 100
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2
Busuu
Expert-written courses with speaking practice and a community of native speakers. Premium plans are a separate paid tier, and it feels more like a course than a game compared with Duolingo.
Best for Guided courses with speaking practice and a community
WebiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
88.5of 100
Visit Alternatives
3
Memrise
Native speaker videos and goal-based courses set it apart, across more than 50 languages. The main page does not name its apps, and paid plans sit beside the free start.
Best for Learning from native speaker videos toward a goal
WebiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
84.0of 100
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4
Speak
AI tutor conversations and speaking-focused lessons with feedback, in seven languages. It has a 7-day trial and then needs a paid plan, so it ranks below Duolingo and Busuu.
Best for Speaking practice with an AI conversation tutor
iOSAndroidSubscription
83.0of 100
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5
Clozemaster
A free-to-play sentence game that teaches vocabulary in context across more than 50 languages. It is not a full course, so it works best beside one such as Duolingo or Pimsleur.
Best for Vocabulary practice inside real sentences
WebiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
82.5of 100
Visit Alternatives
6
Pimsleur
Audio lessons that work hands-free, offline and in the car, with strong recall practice. It has no free tier beyond one lesson, so it costs more to start than the free apps above.
Best for Listening and speaking practice on the move
WebiOSAndroidSubscription
81.5of 100
Visit Alternatives
7
LingQ
Learns from books, podcasts and video the learner chooses, with words saved in context. It is less structured than the course apps, and a Premium membership is needed for every language.
Best for Learning from real books, podcasts and video
WebiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
80.0of 100
Visit Alternatives
8
Drops
Free word games with mnemonic images and a short daily session, in 55+ languages. Premium adds offline learning and unlimited play, but it teaches vocabulary rather than speaking, so it ranks below Duolingo and Busuu.
Best for Daily vocabulary games in many languages
iOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
79.0of 100
Visit Alternatives
9
Rosetta Stone
Immersive lessons with a speech tool and chat missions, but the site lists no free tier. It ranks near the bottom here because every lesson needs a membership.
Best for Immersive lessons for learners who will pay upfront
WebiOSAndroidSubscription
77.0of 100
Visit Alternatives
10
Lingvist
AI vocabulary courses with spaced repetition, on web and mobile. It is a subscription after a free trial, with no free tier, and it teaches vocabulary rather than speaking, so it ranks below the other apps here.
Best for Vocabulary courses with spaced repetition
WebSubscription
74.5of 100
Visit Alternatives

At a glance

Product	Score	Price	Platforms	Main skill practised	Lesson format	Speaking practice
Duolingo	92.5	Free plan, paid upgrades	WebiOSAndroid	Vocabulary, grammar and speaking	Short exercises	Yes
Busuu	88.5	Free plan, paid upgrades	WebiOSAndroid	Speaking and pronunciation	Expert-written courses	Yes
Memrise	84.0	Free plan, paid upgrades	WebiOSAndroid	Listening and speaking	Native speaker videos	Yes
Speak	83.0	Subscription	iOSAndroid	Speaking and conversation	AI tutor conversations	Yes
Clozemaster	82.5	Free plan, paid upgrades	WebiOSAndroid	Vocabulary in sentences	Fill-in-the-blank sentences	No
Pimsleur	81.5	Subscription	WebiOSAndroid	Listening and speaking	30-minute audio lessons	Yes
LingQ	80.0	Free plan, paid upgrades	WebiOSAndroid	Reading and listening	Books, podcasts and video	No
Drops	79.0	Free plan, paid upgrades	iOSAndroid	Vocabulary with mnemonic images	Short word games, about five minutes a day	No
Rosetta Stone	77.0	Subscription	WebiOSAndroid	Speaking and listening	Immersive lessons	Yes
Lingvist	74.5	Subscription	Web	Vocabulary with spaced repetition	AI-personalized vocabulary courses	No

How to choose language learning apps

Teaching method: Structured courses suit beginners; content-led apps suit learners who already read or listen in the language.
Speaking practice: Speaking drills and pronunciation feedback matter most for conversation; reading-led apps leave speaking to other practice.
Free start: Duolingo, Busuu, Memrise, Clozemaster, LingQ and Drops let learners start free; Pimsleur offers one free lesson, Speak and Lingvist offer free trials, and Rosetta Stone lists no free tier.
Pairing: Sentence and vocabulary tools such as Clozemaster work best next to a course, since they teach words without a full grammar sequence.

What the scores weigh

Quality of the teaching method
Speaking and listening practice
Free start and paid tiers
Depth of content and course structure
Platform reach

Scores are editorial, from 0 to 100, and use these criteria. Full method · Disclosure

About language learning apps

Most language apps fall into three groups. Course apps such as Duolingo, Busuu and Memrise teach in a fixed sequence, with short exercises or native speaker clips. Content-led apps such as LingQ build lessons from books, podcasts and video that the learner chooses. Drill and audio programs such as Clozemaster, Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone focus on sentences, listening or immersion. Drops teaches vocabulary through short games, and Speak runs AI conversation practice.

The free start varies widely. Duolingo, Busuu, Memrise, Clozemaster, LingQ and Drops let a learner start without paying. Pimsleur offers one free lesson and sells subscriptions, Speak and Lingvist offer free trials before a subscription, and Rosetta Stone lists no free tier. Paid plans usually add more content, more languages or extra feedback, so the free start is a fair test before paying.

No app in this list is open source. The scores below are editorial judgments against the criteria, not measurements of learning outcomes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free language learning app?: Duolingo has the broadest free start in this list, with a course path for each language. Clozemaster is also free to play and suits vocabulary practice alongside a course.
Which language app puts the most weight on speaking?: Speak, Busuu and Pimsleur put the most weight on speaking, through AI conversation, audio roleplay and pronunciation feedback. Rosetta Stone adds chat missions, but it needs a paid membership.
Are any language learning apps open source?: No. None of the apps in this list publishes its source code under an open-source license, so the open-source column is false for all of them.
Which language app works offline?: Pimsleur lists offline lessons on its site, and Drops lists offline learning on its Premium plan. For the other apps here, check their offline options before relying on them during travel.
Is a paid language app worth it?: Paid apps such as Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone suit a learner who will commit to a schedule and wants audio or immersive lessons. Learners who want to start free can try Duolingo or Busuu first.